Residents of Kalkaringi, almost 500km south-west of Katherine, claimed children were left hungry when the store closed its doors.

The store is owned by the Gurindgi Aboriginal Corporation and operated by the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation. 

Gurindgi Aboriginal Corporation co-ordinator Rob Roy said the store had not been closed as long as some of the residents had claimed but the directors of the corporation were fed up with the constant thievery and damage to the store.

Mr Roy said a town meeting was held yesterday and the store had been closed for a few hours on Friday and over the weekend.

“It’s not just the store but the social club and the Vic Daly offices which are being broken into.

“The breakins cause damage which has to be repaired and the stores have to be cleaned up.”

Mr Roy said people should not be angry at the directors of the corporation but rather the children who were “out of control”.

“The town meeting wanted more put back on the parents to control their kids,” he said.

Two police were stationed at the police station although the numbers often varied and police often came from Katherine to relieve the others when they were away.

“We don’t know that it is a matter for police but a matter for parents.

“We don’t want to see these kids going through the courts and ending up in Don Dale,” Mr Roy said.

He said the corporation was aware of how important the store was to the life of the community, not just with food but with power cards as well.

“We do not close the store to punish people but with the endless breakins we have to do work on it.

“People have to start looking after their kids,” he said.